Now the two have, quite oddly, issued a joint statement. (You'll remember these from the halcyon days of the lockout.)

"We would like to dispel any misperception that there might be any hard feelings between us," Manning and Irsay said in a joint statement released by the team. "Since 1998, we have enjoyed a great relationship, based upon mutual respect and trust. We have always been able to talk and address matters we’ve faced over the years, not just as owner and player, but as friends.

"We had a long talk today and we want to assure Colts fans everywhere that we are both committed to maintaining our close relationship and to working together through any challenges the future may bring."

Now, without applying an ill-fitting metaphor, doesn't this kind of sound like parents addressing kids right before a divorce? ("We still love each other, but ...")

Maybe it is -- if during the long talk Manning and Irsay basically acknowledged that Peyton's going elsewhere, there's a good chance they've found some resolution to their issues. Or maybe Irsay doesn't know if he's paying Peyton or not quite yet; it just seems obvious that he won't.

Regardless, while this is a weird move, it's also a smart one: the NFL media is descending on Indianapolis in three days and the timing of Irsay's barbs on Twitter were terrible, particularly given how omnipresent he'll have to be with the NFL's biggest party going down in his city for the next seven days.

This statement should do at least a little bit to quell all the questions about the relationship he has with Manning these days.

Irsay, Peyton issue statement: No 'hard feelings'

And give Brady the cast of players manning has had and he would have 7 SB In terms of supporting casst

suntitan, do you realize that Brady was much more successful with average receivers like Branch (3 SB's) than with elelite receivers like Moss, Welker and Gronkowski (1 SB loss and 2 one and dones). Granted, he might win this one. My point is that a "great supporting cast" of receivers doesn't win championships as well as a great supporting defense.

Great receivers have helped Brady win 2 MVP's and set a TD record. Most non-Pats fans piont to spygate as to why they stopped winning SB's. The real reason is the glorification of Tom Brady and the loss of sefless play.

Since: Jan 28, 2012

Posted on: January 28, 2012 8:57 am

Irsay, Peyton issue statement: No 'hard feelings'

The Irsay's have done alot of smart things when it has come to the Colts and this sitation will probably be no different. First off, they moved them out of the crap hole called Bmore. They have gotten 2 new stadiums and a SuperBowl. Say what you will about the way they did it, but the attendance to home games in BMore the last few years they where there was less then 35,000. (Look it up if you like) Take care of your team and they won't leave. How many fans in the BMore area can say they actually support the O's? Go to a home game and look around.....If the team was to up and leave, we would have to hear you guys whine about it for the next 25 years. Irsay hired Polian who was one of the best GM's in the bizz. He drafted Manning, took the Bills to several SuperBowls and did the same with Indy. He got lazy, didn't have a backup plan the Irsay let him go. It's no secret that most of the succes of the Colts has come on Mannings right arm and I don't see Irsay just overlooking that and hanging him out. Just my thoughts.

Since: Jul 16, 2011

Posted on: January 28, 2012 8:41 am

Irsay, Peyton issue statement: No 'hard feelings'

It's all posturing, so that each can justify his position, duh. That being said, so Mr. Luck is the annointed one, the superhero who can lead the "new" Colts to glory. Well, gee, hasn't every quarterback drafted in the first round or NUMBER ONE out of college been a guaranteed success in the pros? The only one in recent history who has been a slam dunk is Mr. Newton, who has set the bar pretty high. Even those who have succeeded have normally taken some time to grow into the position, and many simply have not made the cut. Putting all your eggs in one basket is what got Caldwell and Polian fired. To develop a new philosophy and team identity takes a little time, and Indy fans deserve a bit of a transition instead of a rude awakening. They've already had that! Manning should never play for another team. That being said, other greats have played out the string for different colors, Unitas to San Diego, Montana to Kansas City, etc. But who wants to take a chance on a guy who may really never play again? Both sides need to give. Manning should be the Colts quarterback until he demonstrates that he can't be anymore. In return, he already has more money than God; perhaps waiving a chunk of that $28 million to get some vets on defense would be a sign of good faith. Perhaps I still cling to a bit of naivete here in hoping that the guy who (with help, of course) restored my franchise to respectability will retire a Colt.

tallsexylisa
Since: Jan 28, 2012

Posted on: January 28, 2012 8:34 am

This comment has been removed.

Post Deleted by Administrator

Since: Oct 18, 2008

Posted on: January 28, 2012 7:45 am

Irsay, Peyton issue statement: No 'hard feelings'

Just some twerp who can't spell players' names or type a complete sentence....and then does it multiple times. He's either 8 years old using mommy's computer or 42 years old using mommy's computer while drunk.

Since: Oct 30, 2007

Posted on: January 28, 2012 3:37 am

Irsay, Peyton issue statement: No 'hard feelings'

WHo is this Boston Patriots fan boy spamming the board about Tommy Brady?

Since: Feb 9, 2007

Posted on: January 28, 2012 1:23 am

Irsay, Peyton issue statement: No 'hard feelings'

For his own sake, I hope Manning never plays again. What does he have to gain? He'll be 36 by the time next season rolls around, so obviously his best years are behind him. He's already got all the money and fame he needs, and will be a shoo-in for the HOF, so why not quit while he can still walk? It makes no sense to me that he would ever want to suit up again - for the Colts, or any other team.

Since: Nov 24, 2010

Posted on: January 28, 2012 1:17 am

Irsay, Peyton issue statement: No 'hard feelings'

BRADY vs MANNINGBRADY all day long

All things considered, this is one of the tougher sports fans debates out there, but the edge has to go to Brady because of his rings, his undefeated season in 2007-2008 despite the loss to the , and because of his lesser supporting casts on offense.

Manning is a bit more explosive from a stats standpoint but Brady is more consistent and clutch, which makes the difference in this debate and makes him the best QB in recent memory if not the best of all-time

Since: Nov 24, 2010

Posted on: January 28, 2012 1:13 am

Irsay, Peyton issue statement: No 'hard feelings'

Manning is not even the best of this generation he is behined Brady breeze Rodgers And give Brady the cast of players manning has had and he would have 7 SB In terms of supporting casst, Manning probably has had more high-profile weapons like and while Brady has mostly accomplished his feats with a rotating cast of receiving targets, although he has found favorites in guys like and.

While Manning has more control of his team's offense overall, Brady is also one of the most detailed game managers in the league.

From a coaching standpoint, Bill Belichick has probably helped Brady along more than Manning's coaches, and the AFC East and AFC South have been similar in terms of the quality of teams.

All things considered, this is one of the tougher sports fans debates out there, but the edge has to go to Brady because of his rings, his undefeated season in 2007-2008 despite the loss to the , and because of his lesser supporting casts on offense.

Manning is a bit more explosive from a stats standpoint but Brady is more consistent and clutch, which makes the difference in this debate and makes him the best QB in recent memory if not the best of all-time

Since: Nov 24, 2010

Posted on: January 28, 2012 12:32 am

Irsay, Peyton issue statement: No 'hard feelings'

The COLTS would be stupid to hold on to PM. YOU got Luck that you are gona get. Just like when they got Manning before. Now you get a young healthy Franchise QB who when its all said and done will probibly be better. PM is 4th best in todays QB's BRADY BREEZE RODGERS. He only has about 4 more years if he doesn't get injured and thats even if he can get healthy. So you let Manning go and start over Luck gets Experience and you free up the money. use that to go get some talant and build around Luck like they did Manning. PM was the one QB that a team in NFL built for him around him more than any other NFL team. And while he is headed to canton one day he has not achieved what BRADY would have with the same talant Manning had. He is not the PRESSURE QB Brady is. He should retire and not risk an inhury for life. He will never get to another SB with colts or even a playoff game they need to start over. he could go somewhere else and take another team to the playoffs.

The stats overall are fairly close, but the one that sticks out for many is the stat pertaining to Brady's Super Bowl rings. Whether fair or not, big-time QB's are ultimately judged by how many they win and Brady got a head start when he filled in for Drew Bledsoe in his second season in 2001. But he has continued his success from that point on.

Brady has had some bad playoff moments as well including a Super Bowl loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII but Manning probably has more high-profile stumbles in the playoffs. Brady seems less likely to make the big mistake as evidence by his superior TD-INT ratio.

In terms of supporting casst, Manning probably has had more high-profile weapons like and while Brady has mostly accomplished his feats with a rotating cast of receiving targets, although he has found favorites in guys like and.

While Manning has more control of his team's offense overall, Brady is also one of the most detailed game managers in the league.

From a coaching standpoint, Bill Belichick has probably helped Brady along more than Manning's coaches, and the AFC East and AFC South have been similar in terms of the quality of teams.

All things considered, this is one of the tougher sports fans debates out there, but the edge has to go to Brady because of his rings, his undefeated season in 2007-2008 despite the loss to the Giants, and because of his lesser supporting casts on offense.

Manning is a bit more explosive from a stats standpoint but Brady is more consistent and clutch, which makes the difference in this debate and makes him the best QB in recent memory if not the best of all-time.